Plyometrics
No p90x again...but I did go on a nice run with my dog. It was my first real run in 6+ weeks. I was pleased to remember what it feels like to run (something I enjoy), even though I'm in no real shape for running yet. I'm sure I'll get back into the p90x workouts, but it's nice to mix it up right now. I've been really disinterested in the workouts lately. In part because I haven't been able to meet up with my workout partner recently (and won't for another 2 weeks). I'm also getting ready to go on an eight-day mission trip next week, so I won't be able to do any of the p90x stuff there. In fact, there's a greater likelihood of me being able to run there, so maybe it's good to get my legs and lungs ready for running at elevation.
Eating continues to be hit-or-miss with me. No breakfast, a completely awful lunch (cheap, crappy gas station food...blech!) but a pretty healthy dinner (turkey sandwich, soup, apple). Maybe tomorrow will be a little better.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Day 50
Arms & Back
I didn't do the p90x workout today...again. However, I had a nice bike ride (19 miles) and walk (3 miles) tonight. I even ran the state capitol steps a couple of times. My eating and water intake was better than previous days, but I still had some moments of weakness. I'm not sure if I'm going to do plyometrics tomorrow after working my legs pretty hard the last two days. Maybe arms and back or something. Or maybe I'll go on another bike ride!
I didn't do the p90x workout today...again. However, I had a nice bike ride (19 miles) and walk (3 miles) tonight. I even ran the state capitol steps a couple of times. My eating and water intake was better than previous days, but I still had some moments of weakness. I'm not sure if I'm going to do plyometrics tomorrow after working my legs pretty hard the last two days. Maybe arms and back or something. Or maybe I'll go on another bike ride!
Days 45 - 49
Day 45 -- Back & Biceps
Good, hard workout. Really focused in on the ab ripper as well. I tried to simulate pull-ups on a beam in my basement and my feet on a chair. Not a great replication, but I certainly felt it more than using the bands. I think it's time to get a pull-up bar.
Day 46 -- Yoga
I didn't want to do this at all, but I woke up early to get it in. I half-assed the first 45 minutes, but worked harder at the last 45 than I usually do. I still hate yoga. I'm not very good at it, I can't "get in the zone" while listening to Tony Horton, and I don't feel any real difference in my body after I do it.
Day 47 -- Legs & Back
Skipped this, in part because of a headache in the morning, and in part because I had a really busy day. No excuse. I'm a slacker.
Day 48 -- Kenpo X
Didn't do this one either. I spent two hours climbing trees and sawing dead branches with a hand saw. Burned lots of calories and exhausted my arms and shoulders. It wasn't a real p90x workout, but it was a solid effort nonetheless.
Day 49 -- Rest
I went on a 5 mile run/jog/walk with my dog tonight. It was humid and he got tired in spots. I felt pretty good, for having not run in over a month. Being able to run regularly continues to be my goal. Doing p90x is helping me lose weight and improve general fitness so I can run with less strain on my joints. I enjoy running (most of the time) and would like to get back into it during the fall months.
* * *
In general, my eating is awful. The moments of healthy food choices are few and far between. I'm getting really close to my old habits, which were awful. I'm going to try to ease my way back into healthy eating habits in the upcoming week. We'll see...
Good, hard workout. Really focused in on the ab ripper as well. I tried to simulate pull-ups on a beam in my basement and my feet on a chair. Not a great replication, but I certainly felt it more than using the bands. I think it's time to get a pull-up bar.
Day 46 -- Yoga
I didn't want to do this at all, but I woke up early to get it in. I half-assed the first 45 minutes, but worked harder at the last 45 than I usually do. I still hate yoga. I'm not very good at it, I can't "get in the zone" while listening to Tony Horton, and I don't feel any real difference in my body after I do it.
Day 47 -- Legs & Back
Skipped this, in part because of a headache in the morning, and in part because I had a really busy day. No excuse. I'm a slacker.
Day 48 -- Kenpo X
Didn't do this one either. I spent two hours climbing trees and sawing dead branches with a hand saw. Burned lots of calories and exhausted my arms and shoulders. It wasn't a real p90x workout, but it was a solid effort nonetheless.
Day 49 -- Rest
I went on a 5 mile run/jog/walk with my dog tonight. It was humid and he got tired in spots. I felt pretty good, for having not run in over a month. Being able to run regularly continues to be my goal. Doing p90x is helping me lose weight and improve general fitness so I can run with less strain on my joints. I enjoy running (most of the time) and would like to get back into it during the fall months.
* * *
In general, my eating is awful. The moments of healthy food choices are few and far between. I'm getting really close to my old habits, which were awful. I'm going to try to ease my way back into healthy eating habits in the upcoming week. We'll see...
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Days 43 & 44
Day 43 - Chest & Shoulders
It felt good to get back into the groove after three lackluster days at the end of the previous week. I was able to increase weight and/or reps in most of the elements. It's still difficult for me to do more than 30 consecutive push-ups from my toes, so most of the advanced push-up sequences are done from my knees. I really worked my triceps hard, which I needed to do. I've been riding my bike more often, and I really notice a lack of strength in my arms over a long period of time.
This was my best Ab Ripper day, by far. I stayed with the people on the DVD for 5 of the 11 elements. I took short breaks in the middle of the other 6. Oblique V-Ups continue to be my nemesis. (They really hurt my hip bone!) I've noticed a slow, steady increase in stamina during Ab Ripper. I still have a ways to go before there is any noticeable ab definition, but I feel stronger in my core and no longer dread the ab workouts.
I continue to eat like crap, for the most part. Every good choice (yogurt, fruit, veggies, water) is offset by a lazy choice (cheeseburger, diet soda, coffee, sugars). In a way, I feel "entitled" to eat bad food after a hard workout. I'm also not feeling the adverse affects of poor diet (headaches, stomach cramps, etc.) that I did early on. I was motivated by fear of illness in the first weeks. Now, I can get away with it. Ugh!
Day 44 - Plyometrics
This workout went really well. I'm noticing an ability to do a more full range of motion in the various sequences. The muscles around my joints (especially my faulty knees) are getting stronger, which makes it easier to be more explosive during the workout. The only bummer was having to stop before the "bonus round" and cool-down, due to limited schedule. I really noticed this later in the day, when an old nagging right-calf injury came out of retirement. Hopefully some yoga in two days will help me stretch that out.
Now, a complaint. Tony's antics during this workout annoy the hell out of me. He's a good-natured, quasi-geek during most of the workouts, which can provide a helpful distraction from soreness and exhaustion. But, for whatever reason, he's ultra goofy on Plyo X. For example:
Whatever...these aren't the worst thing in the world...but it just annoys me after 9 sessions of Plyo X. Maybe next time I'll mute the video and play some music in the room.
Eating sucked, again. Just to spite Tony, I had a cheeseburger, fries, shake, and a diet soda during the day (though not all at the same time). I did make some good choices, but I'm mostly morphing back into my old ways of grabbing cheap, unhealthy food on-the-go. Maybe tomorrow will be better...
It felt good to get back into the groove after three lackluster days at the end of the previous week. I was able to increase weight and/or reps in most of the elements. It's still difficult for me to do more than 30 consecutive push-ups from my toes, so most of the advanced push-up sequences are done from my knees. I really worked my triceps hard, which I needed to do. I've been riding my bike more often, and I really notice a lack of strength in my arms over a long period of time.
This was my best Ab Ripper day, by far. I stayed with the people on the DVD for 5 of the 11 elements. I took short breaks in the middle of the other 6. Oblique V-Ups continue to be my nemesis. (They really hurt my hip bone!) I've noticed a slow, steady increase in stamina during Ab Ripper. I still have a ways to go before there is any noticeable ab definition, but I feel stronger in my core and no longer dread the ab workouts.
I continue to eat like crap, for the most part. Every good choice (yogurt, fruit, veggies, water) is offset by a lazy choice (cheeseburger, diet soda, coffee, sugars). In a way, I feel "entitled" to eat bad food after a hard workout. I'm also not feeling the adverse affects of poor diet (headaches, stomach cramps, etc.) that I did early on. I was motivated by fear of illness in the first weeks. Now, I can get away with it. Ugh!
Day 44 - Plyometrics
This workout went really well. I'm noticing an ability to do a more full range of motion in the various sequences. The muscles around my joints (especially my faulty knees) are getting stronger, which makes it easier to be more explosive during the workout. The only bummer was having to stop before the "bonus round" and cool-down, due to limited schedule. I really noticed this later in the day, when an old nagging right-calf injury came out of retirement. Hopefully some yoga in two days will help me stretch that out.
Now, a complaint. Tony's antics during this workout annoy the hell out of me. He's a good-natured, quasi-geek during most of the workouts, which can provide a helpful distraction from soreness and exhaustion. But, for whatever reason, he's ultra goofy on Plyo X. For example:
"Cheeseburger - bad. Fries - bad. Shakes - bad. CocaCola - bad...oops, I said it! Drink your water, people." (ooooh! you're such a deviant by telling people not to drink soda.)
"And here's Pam, they call her Blam." and later "Let's go to Pam for perfection. They call her Perfect Pam." (do we really need nicknames for the random people in the background?)
"You want to be like Cat-Man or Spider-Woman on this one." (strike that...reverse it.)
"You should see me play hoop after a few weeks of plyo!" (oh wow...Tony...you're such a stud...please, tell us more about how good you are at sports.)
"You do have the Cardio X option for those who aren't Plyo X ready. But if you have this DVD on your TV right now...get ready...cuz it's COMIN'!" (thanks for the reminder)
Whatever...these aren't the worst thing in the world...but it just annoys me after 9 sessions of Plyo X. Maybe next time I'll mute the video and play some music in the room.
Eating sucked, again. Just to spite Tony, I had a cheeseburger, fries, shake, and a diet soda during the day (though not all at the same time). I did make some good choices, but I'm mostly morphing back into my old ways of grabbing cheap, unhealthy food on-the-go. Maybe tomorrow will be better...
Monday, June 13, 2011
Days 39 - 42
Day 39 - Yoga X
I skipped it. Ate like crap. I hate yoga.
Day 40 - Legs & Back
Didn't feel like doing it...but I did. Even did the Ab Ripper X portion. Slow start. Finished strong. Ate pretty well throughout the day.
Day 41 - Kenpo X
I skipped it...but did a 25-mile bike ride instead. Eating was good. Margaritas at night were delicious (though not healthy).
Day 42 - Rest
Sloth. On every level. Blech.
I skipped it. Ate like crap. I hate yoga.
Day 40 - Legs & Back
Didn't feel like doing it...but I did. Even did the Ab Ripper X portion. Slow start. Finished strong. Ate pretty well throughout the day.
Day 41 - Kenpo X
I skipped it...but did a 25-mile bike ride instead. Eating was good. Margaritas at night were delicious (though not healthy).
Day 42 - Rest
Sloth. On every level. Blech.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Day 38
Back & Biceps.
Good workout today. I felt good about increasing the weight I'm using on biceps elements. I've always had pretty weak arms, so it's nice to notice improvement in this area. I need to find a better way to use resistance bands (in lieu of a pull-up bar) in my garage. Hopefully I can do that this week so I can get more out of the pull-up elements. Or...I'll just have to break down and buy a pull-up bar.
I ate lots of chicken today and drank a reasonable amount of water. I did indulge in a couple of adult sodas in the evening, but managed to avoid the temptation to eat "bar food" late at night. Instead, a bowl of shredded wheat cereal did the trick.
Good workout today. I felt good about increasing the weight I'm using on biceps elements. I've always had pretty weak arms, so it's nice to notice improvement in this area. I need to find a better way to use resistance bands (in lieu of a pull-up bar) in my garage. Hopefully I can do that this week so I can get more out of the pull-up elements. Or...I'll just have to break down and buy a pull-up bar.
I ate lots of chicken today and drank a reasonable amount of water. I did indulge in a couple of adult sodas in the evening, but managed to avoid the temptation to eat "bar food" late at night. Instead, a bowl of shredded wheat cereal did the trick.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Day 37
Plyometrics.
Here's a list of behaviors that will make a plyometrics workout suck:
Here's a list of behaviors that will make a plyometrics workout suck:
- Do a chest & arms & abs workout 10 hours before plyos
- Skip supper the night before and only eat a ham sandwich the previous 24 hours
- Get 6 hours of sleep
Oddly enough, not giving fuel to my body impacted my performance on this calorie-burning workout. I sat out four exercises of the penultimate set, but otherwise stayed with it. My workout partner did a great job of "bringing it"...and he even made me a recovery shake afterwards.
I ate pretty well today. Probably too much salt, but I had a lot of water and protein.
My dad (who saw me for the first time since I started the p90x program) thought I had lost 20+ pounds. I'm not sure that's accurate, but it was nice that he noticed a change. I'm continuing to resist the temptation to quantify a change in my body. I've stayed off the scale, haven't taken my measurements, and haven't looked at pictures of myself from a few months ago. The goal continues to be wellness and balance in all aspects of my life. Thus far, I'm pleased with the role this new diet and exercise regimen is playing in pursuit of that goal.
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